Gaffney resident protests animal ordinance

Published: Monday, March 4, 2013 at 7:32 p.m.

Last Modified: Monday, March 4, 2013 at 7:32 p.m.

A Gaffney resident facing a $1,100 fine for violating the city's animal ordinance asked City Council Monday to intervene and change its laws.

The Cherokee County Humane Society supports city resident R.J. Holly and other dog owners who contend the law is unfair.

“I was written a ticket for my dog being in my own yard,” Holly told council during its meeting Monday. Holly, who has four dogs, said the city's ordinance is excessive and places a significant burden on dog owners. A city animal control officer issued Holly a ticket on Jan. 2 without first issuing a warning, which Holly said is unfair.

The ordinance passed in 2011 calls for owners of three or more dogs outside to provide each animal with a kennel at least six feet high, enclosing an area of at least 100 square feet per dog. Each kennel must have a concrete floor or another similar surface and must be sealed against moisture.

Holly had his dogs enclosed in a fence, but doesn't have a kennel for each. He said an animal control officer had responded to a neighbor complaining of barking dogs and then issued the citation after finding there were no kennels. Holly said he recently moved back into the city and the dogs, which are normally kept inside, were outside following a house fire on Jan. 1.

Holly's citation, and another warning given to city resident Mona Ivy, caught the attention of the Humane Society.

Humane Society President Beth Osment asked council to modify the ordinance to read that owners of three or more dogs outside for breeding or profit should purchase a kennel license from the city and provide a kennel facility.

They also recommended that the city should limit the number of outside dogs kept for pleasure to three.

Osment said requiring dog owners to provide kennels with concrete pads isn't healthy for dogs, as they may damage paws and be harmful to joints.

“Dogs are social animals and have a need to be together and the ordinance requires them to be separated in the kennels,” Osment said.

Mayor Henry Jolly told Osment that her requests seemed to be reasonable and referred the matter to the police committee.

Holly said he will continue to fight the citation and heads to court at 9:30 a.m. Thursday to appear before a city judge.

<p>A Gaffney resident facing a $1,100 fine for violating the city's animal ordinance asked City Council Monday to intervene and change its laws.</p><p>The Cherokee County Humane Society supports city resident R.J. Holly and other dog owners who contend the law is unfair.</p><p>“I was written a ticket for my dog being in my own yard,” Holly told council during its meeting Monday. Holly, who has four dogs, said the city's ordinance is excessive and places a significant burden on dog owners. A city animal control officer issued Holly a ticket on Jan. 2 without first issuing a warning, which Holly said is unfair.</p><p>The ordinance passed in 2011 calls for owners of three or more dogs outside to provide each animal with a kennel at least six feet high, enclosing an area of at least 100 square feet per dog. Each kennel must have a concrete floor or another similar surface and must be sealed against moisture.</p><p>Holly had his dogs enclosed in a fence, but doesn't have a kennel for each. He said an animal control officer had responded to a neighbor complaining of barking dogs and then issued the citation after finding there were no kennels. Holly said he recently moved back into the city and the dogs, which are normally kept inside, were outside following a house fire on Jan. 1.</p><p>Holly's citation, and another warning given to city resident Mona Ivy, caught the attention of the Humane Society.</p><p>Humane Society President Beth Osment asked council to modify the ordinance to read that owners of three or more dogs outside for breeding or profit should purchase a kennel license from the city and provide a kennel facility.</p><p>They also recommended that the city should limit the number of outside dogs kept for pleasure to three.</p><p>Osment said requiring dog owners to provide kennels with concrete pads isn't healthy for dogs, as they may damage paws and be harmful to joints.</p><p>“Dogs are social animals and have a need to be together and the ordinance requires them to be separated in the kennels,” Osment said.</p><p>Mayor Henry Jolly told Osment that her requests seemed to be reasonable and referred the matter to the police committee.</p><p>Holly said he will continue to fight the citation and heads to court at 9:30 a.m. Thursday to appear before a city judge.</p>